"They Are Children Without A Voice": High Court Seeks Delhi Govt's Response On Plea To Fill Vacant Posts In School For Blind Students

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the response of Delhi Government in a plea seeking filling up of vacant posts of Principal, Vice Principal and other teaching staff in a Government run school for blind students.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad was hearing an application moved in a 2018 plea filed by National Federation of Blind seeking direction on the respondent authorities to initiate the process of regular appointment in Government Blind Boys Senior Secondary School in city's Kingsway Camp, as per the time frame as stated vide order dated August 28, 2019.

The application stated that till regular appointments are made, the same should be done by way of deputation or on contract basis within a period of two weeks to ensure that the education of students do not suffer.

During the course of hearing today, Advocate Santosh Kumar Rungta argued that the school was functioning without Principal, Vice Principal, teachers and other staff and even without proper hostel facility.

He also apprised the Bench that the situation had worsened since the year 2019 and that the respondents must undertake admission process for all classes along with hostel facility and other facilities to all the blind students during academic session 2022-23.

In this backdrop, the Bench noted that while various judicial orders have been passed in the matter from time to time directing the Delhi Government to ensure that principal, vice principal, teachers and other staff are appointed in the school and students are provided with facilities and other basic amenities like braille book and assistive devices etc., the respondents had not appointed the teaching staff.

"It is unfortunate that specially in the case of specially abled children, the Government is not taking appropriate steps," the Court said.

At the outset, the Court appreciated the approach of Advocate Rungta, stating that he was "running from pillar to post" so that the children were provided with basic amenities.

"I am personally grateful. They are children without a voice," Chief Justice orally remarked.

As the counsel appearing for Delhi Government and other authorities sought one weeks time to seek instructions in the matter, the Court allowed the same and ordered thus: "The respondents will file an affidavit in respect of the application."

The Court said that the response must be filed by Secretary of Social Welfare Department, Delhi Government.

The matter will now be heard on 29 July.

The plea sought directions on the authorities to ensure appointment of regular qualified principal and regular qualified teachers in accordance with the norms of CBSE as well as Warden for the hostel in the school.

It also sought facilities of Braille books, assistive devices to the students and also to establish computer lab and E-library for them in the school.

Case Title: National Federation of the Blind Vs. & GNCT of Delhi & Ors.